Mechanism for shifting stage-scenery in theaters.



PATENTED APR. 7, 1908.;

G. SCHNEIDER. v MECHANISM FOR SHIPTING STAGE SOENERY IN THEATERS.

APPLICATION FILED 1330,19 1906.

'2 sums-sum 1.

Wihwaaca g I UNITED sTArns PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE SCHNEIDER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO LEON A. FERRANDINI, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

MECHANISM FOR SHIF'IING STAGE-SCENERY IN THEATERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 7, 1908.

Application filed December 19, 1906. Serial No. 348,592.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE SCHNEIDER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of lVIaryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanism for Shifting Stage- Scenery in Theaters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in mechanism for shifting stage scenery in theaters.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved construction whereby scenery may be mounted so as to be placed in position with rapidity and held in such manner that while in position the scene may be quickly changed.

The invention consists in the construc tions, combinations and arrangement of dewith the invention.

vices as hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention in which, Figure 1 shows. an elevation of a plurality of scenery sections mounted inaccordance Fig. 2 shows a sectional plan view of the same. Figs. 3 and 4, illustrate two detail views of the mounting for holding and rotating the several scenery sections. Fig. 5 illustrates a plan view of one of the mountings. Fig. 6 shows a plan view of one of the scene-sections and the manner of bracing the scenery at its upper end. Fig. 7 illustrates a perspective detail view of one of the lower sustaining bars. Fig. 8, shows a perspective view of one form of connection between the upper brace bars and the scenery, and Fig. 9, illustrates a perspective view of one form of device for holding the scenery together at the bottom.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 1, designates a base or platform which is preferably mounted on casters, 2, in order that it may be readily rolled into or out of position. This platform is provided at opposite ends with vertical bars, 3, which latter are connected at the top by a cross-bar, 4. The base,

vertical bars and top cross-bar togethenform a frame in which the scenery is to be mounted. The base or platform, 1, is preferably made in a plurality of lengths which are connectedby hinges, 5, (see Fig. 1) so as to permit of folding compactly together for storage or shipment.

The scenery is to be mounted on the platform'so it can be turned, that is rotated or revolved as desired, and to effect this turning I provide for each scenery section, a mounting, 6, which is rigidly secured to the upper side of the platform, and as the mountings are all constructed alike, a description of one will be sufficient. The mountings comprise a base, preferably of metal having a central vertical hole or recess, 7, at its upper end which receives the hub, 8, of a pinion, 9, so the latter can be revolved or rotated in a horizontal plane. A circular head, 10, is formed or otherwise attached to the upper side of the pinion, 9, and turns therewith and said head receives the lower end of a vertical shaft, 11. This head is provided with a lurality of dove-tailed recesses, 12, in w ich lower brace rods, 18, are to be mounted so as to radiate therefrom. Each lower brace bar, 13, is provided at its inner end with a flared head, 14, and a bottom lug, 15, and the said flared head will fit snugly into one of the dove-tailed recesses, 12, of the circular head while the bottom lug, 15, will contact with the vertical or circumferential wall of the head and aid in sustaining the bar in-a horizontal position as clearly seen in Fig. 3. In the present instance the circular heads are provided with three dove-tailed recesses and the heads are therefore designed to carry three horizontal or radiating bars. The outer end of each bar is provided with a vertically-projecting pin, 16, for a purpose to be presently described.

It will be understood by reference to Fig. 8, that the radiating bars, 13 have position in a plane above the pinion, 9, leaving a space, 17, between the top of the base and t e bottom of the circular head and bars.

The scenery is to be sustained by the base or mounting through the radiating bars, 13, so that as the bars are turned with the head the scenery may also be turned to present one face or another. there are three scenery sections illustrated and each section has three faces or sides designated by numerals, 18, 19 and, 20, but it is obvious that both the number of sections and the number of faces or sides of each section In. the present instance may be varied without departing from the in vention and the faces or sides of each section maybe separate or they may be formed inte rally.

or the purpose of enabling the combinations of scenes to be varied as well as for compactness when stored or shipped I prefer to make the several faces or sides of each scene section inde endent of the others and shaft.

to this end I provic e some suitable device for attachin the several faces so they can be sustains about the central vertical shaft and be turned therewith.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 9 of the drawing it will be seen that at the lower bottom edge each scenery portion is provided with a plate, 21, having a perforation, 22, and that the vertical ms, 16, on the outer ends of the lower rat iatin bars project up through these plates and ho d the said lower ends of the scenery together on top of the bars,-one pin serving to hold the plates of two faces or sides. At their upper ends each face or side is provided on its inner surface with a socketplate, 23, (seeFigs. 6 and 8) and suitable arms, 24, carried by the shaft, 11, have cross-heads,

25, which enter said socket-plates and hold the upper ends of the sides in around the It will thus be seen that the several scenery sections are mounted on the vertical shafts and are sustained so as to be turned above the latform. In order to effect the turning of t e sections and also to turn them all simultaneously I have provided means coacting between the various shafts whereby this may be accomplished.

By reference to Figs. 4 and 5, it will be seen that a vertical bearing, 26, is provided on the base of the mountin and that a segment gear, 27, has a vertica shaft, 28, which turns in the base bearing and said segment gear meshes with the pinion, 9, so as to turn the latter. An arm, 29, is rigidly connected to the segment gear and projects laterally from the platform, 1, and by oscillating said arm the segment gear will be turned back and forth and the pinion, head, vertical shaft and entire scenery section will be moved in a horizontal plane above the platform. By 0 crating the arm, 29, one face or another of t e scenery section may be presented at a given point. In order that all of said sections may be olperated alike and simultaneously Ipivota y connect the various operating arms by a bar, 30, and through a lever, 31, which is pivoted to the platform and a link, 32, I am able to impart a like movement to all of said scenery sections at the same time.

From the fore oing description it will be seen that the p atforms with the scenery sections mounted thereon may be readily rolled into osition and that by the mere op eration of t e lever, 31, a change of scenery may be instantly made and it will also be seen that the parts are so constructed that they may be readily assembled or taken apart.

While the scenery sections are shown and described as being mounted within a frame, it is to be understood that such frame is not essential as the shafts are held in the bases sufficiently to sustain them in a vertical position.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,-

1. The combination with a portable platform, of a plurality of bases mounted on the platform and in line with each other; shafts sustained in each of said bases; scenery sections carried by said shafts; gears on said shafts; segment gears meshing with said shaft gears and provided with operating arms, and an operating bar connecting all of said arms.

2. The combination with a platform, of a plurality of bases on said platform; a shaft extending vertically from each base; a head on the lower end of each shaft,said heads having a plurality of sockets; arms fitting into the sockets and radiating from said head scene sections sustained by said arms, and means for revolving said head, arms and scene sections independently of the platform.

3. The combination with a platform, of a plurality of bases mounted on said platform shafts mounted in said bases and projecting vertically therefrom; a head on each shaft and revolving therewith and each head having a plurality of radiating arms; a plurality of arms radiating from the shafts above said heads; scene sections sustained by said radiating arms; means for revolving said shafts, heads, radiating arms and scene sections independentl of the platform, and means whereby all of said devices may be moved with the said latform.

4. The com ination with a platform, of a base mounting on said platform; a pinion carried above said base; a head connected to and turning with said pinion; a plurality of arms detachably connected to said head; a shaft extending vertically above the arms; a plurality of scene sections connected at their lower ends to said arms; means connecting the upper ends of the scene sections and the shaft, and means for turning said pinion.

5. The combination with a folding portable latform of scene sections mounted on said olding platform and means for revolving the scene sections independently of the folding platform.

6. The combination with a foldin latform of a plurality of bases on said fofding platform shafts detachably mounted in said bases; detachable arms carried by said shafts; scene sections detachably connected to said arms, and means for revolving all of said shafts, arms and scene sections simultaneously.

7. The combination with a platform comprising a plurality of sections shafts mounted on said platform sections; arms radiating from and detachably connected to the shafts; scene-sections detachahly connected to said arms; lever mechanism; gears coacting between said lever mechanism and the shafts, 10

all of said parts being detachably mounted above the platform sections.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE SCHNEIDER. Witnesses ARTHUR T. WoLFENDEN,

W. L. WHITING. 

